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JAMES C. ANDERSON, OF HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS.

ORNAMENTATION OF BRICK, TILE, 84.0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,590, dated February6, 1883,

- Application filed August 10, 1882. (No specimens.)

1'0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES C. ANDERSON, acitizen of the United States, residing at Highland Park, in the countyof Lake and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in ()rnamentation of Brick, Tile, &c.; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains'tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to the ornamentation of bricks, tiles,building-blocks, and other bodies of clay having uniform or plainsurfaces; auditconsistsinplacingtheornament of whatever kind between thefaces of the brick or tile as they are being piled or set in the kilnfor burning, so that in the burning of the articles the said ornamentwill be fixed and become a part thereof.

In carrying out my invention I spread or print the coloring matter, ofany desired color or combination of colors, on paper or other suitablematerial, which will be consumed in the firing and burning of the brickor tile, and leave the color or ornament in place and fixed on the faceot the article. The bricks or tiles,

.having been formed in the usual manner, are

laid up or set in the kiln face to face upon their edges, instretching-courses of two or three bricks high, with firespaces betweenthe courses, and then like heading or cross courses are laid, as isusual in setting fine pressed brick in the kilns. The ornaments, ofwhatever kind, are placed between the bricks and in contact with theface, sides, or edges to be ornamented. \Vhen the kiln is properlyfilled the firing takes place, (a down-draft kiln being preferieth) andas the bricks are slightly softened by the evaporation of the water fromthe brick, or in the act of driving off What is known as thewater-smoke, the bricks being set one upon the other, the combinedweight of'the mass above is utilized in compressing the ornament, andthe bricks will settle down and embed the ornament therein. In theprocess of firing, the bricks or tiles pass through two softeningperiods-the one just mentioned, the other when they have reached adegreeof heat when semi-vitrification and shrinkage take place. Beforereaching the latter point the paper or other materialon which theornament has been placed is consumed, leaving the ornament imrepresentthe leaf, plant, &c., when burned, as

it is in a state of nature, or in varied and different colors. It willbe understood, however, that I can by this process inlay with orornament with gold-leaf, silver-leaf, 'or with any thin ornament ormetallic colors not afi'ected by the heat, but such as will be fixed orvitrified in the burning.

The paper I use on which to printor paint-the design is by preferencewhat is known as unsized paper; but I do not wish to confine myself topaper of any kind or to leaves, as it is obvious that sheets ofgelatine, wax, and the like may be employed for this purpose.

I do not wish to confine myself to any particular form of ornament. asit is obvious that geometrical figures may be so arranged that a seriesof bricks or tiles of a certain series will form the design when placedin position, and that ivy-vines and other climbing plants may be broughtout with good effect on the wall or floor of a building, Figures,letters, and, in fact, a vast variety of designs, can thus be producedat a comparatively-slight cost.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

The method herein described of ornamenting bricks, tiles, 850, the sameconsisting in placing'the paper or other material on which the ornamenthas been previously printed or placed in vitrifiable or metallic colorsbetween the faces of the bricks or tiles to be or namented as they arestacked in the kiln, and fixing the same'thereon by the heat which burnsor finishes the article.

In testimony whereofl atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' J. O. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

, LlLLIE E. ANDERSON,

F. A. BARNEs.

ICC

